On PBS, for instance, fireworks was bigger than “Downton Abbey.” More than 6.3 million people watched PBS’s “A Capitol Fourth” orgy of other-networks’ stars and fireworks on the Mall in Washington, PBS reported Thursday. “Downton Abbey” made news when its second-season finale clocked 5.4 million viewers.

Meanwhile, over on NBC, 7.9 million watched Katy Perry and Kenny Chesney grace the “Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular.” That special ran from 9-10 p.m. ET, after which NBC clocked 5.4 million viewers by immediately rerunning it. Heck, let’s cume those numbers — like the cable networks do! That gives NBC a fireworks audience of more than 13 million.

Over on CBS, 5.4 million people tuned in to “Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular,” featuring a performance by “American Idol” non-winner and soon-to-be recurring star of NBC’s “Smash” Jennifer Hudson; and host Michael Chiklis, who will soon be seen starring as the heavy on a new CBS period drama called “Vegas.”

Which gives us – still using cable math – a whopping 25 million people tuned in to fireworks broadcasts on Independence Day.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.

To pause and restart automatic updates, click "Live" or "Paused". If paused, you'll be notified of the number of additional comments that have come in.

Comments our editors find particularly useful or relevant are displayed in Top Comments, as are comments by users with these badges: . Replies to those posts appear here, as well as posts by staff writers.